Your (free) ticket to self-development

Small Business Week is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by renewing your skill set and upping your motivation at the annual SOHO small business conference? And this year it’s (mostly) free!

As in the last few years, the Vancouver-based SOHO Group is running the conference in both Vancouver (at Canada Place, Thurs., Oct. 12) and Toronto (at the CNE trade centre, Thurs., Oct. 19).

The keynote speakers are David Chalk, former computer retailer turned high-tech TV host, and Ron Buist, the former marketing director of Tim Hortons – and the guy who invented the oft-copied “Roll Up the Rim to Win” promotion.

There are lots of other things going on: seminars, workshops, entrepreneur roundtables and a trade show. The good news is that after the keynotes are finished ($79 if you pre-register), admission to most activities is free for the first 2,000 attendees. (You must pre-register; it’s $50 at the door.)

Among the post-10 a.m. freebie speakers are economists from the TD Bank, my buddy Michael Hepworth on breakthrough marketing (always worth hearing, even for a second or third time), “Book Yourself Solid” author Michael Port, and business coaches Jamie Cunningham, Sandy Kemp and Warren Coughlin.

For an extra fee you can get some peer counselling or attend the post-show party. Sounds like a great way to spend the day.

Click here to register or get more information.